There’s An Underground City In Northern California And Most People Have No Idea It Exists
One of the most prominent cities in Northern California has a mysterious past… and a whole underground level that hardly anyone talks about! Old Sacramento was built up during the time of the gold rush, but the frequent flooding of this area obliterated its first level time and time again, until finally, the city abandoned that level altogether. It’s both fascinating and creepy to tour the abandoned level… see for yourself!
In the mid 1800s during the height of the Gold Rush, Sacramento was a booming settlement located on the banks of the Sacramento River. It was the gateway to the Mother Lode, and nearly every 49er who came to seek their fortune passed through this area.
Sacramento Underground docents welcome you in style. They dress in period clothing and are very knowledgeable about local history.
Unfortunately (and as we are experiencing with our stormy, wet winter), the Sacramento area is prone to extreme flooding. The settlers became tired of their city being destroyed by the floods, so in the 1860s and 1870s the town began to raise its streets and buildings.
Sacramento Underground tours take place in Old Town Sac., and even if you don't make it below the surface, this historic and well preserved spot offers a lot of history all on it's own.
Living history reenactments, as seen here, show the political contention revolving around what to do about Sacramento's flooding problem. Levees were also built, and while they are constantly monitored for the safety of the city's 479,686 residents, they have been known to fail on more than one occasion.
The orginal first floor was abandoned and Sacramentans eventually forgot about its existence, except for the occasion cellar or basement that was used for storage but was once a first floor.
The Sacramento History Museum now offers tours of this historic, but admittedly spooky, underground city. The guides are dressed to the nines in period wear, making you feel like you stepped right back in time.
The tour walks you along the old sidewalk and inside a few rooms that are structurally sound. It can get humid and damp in the underground, which means it's a great way to escape Sacramento's heat in the summer.
The tours depart from the Sacramento History Museum at 101 I Street in Old Sacramento. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for youths. Reservations are highly encouraged, These tours sell out!
Would you take this mysterious but historical tour through Northern California’s underground city? We want to know what you think about this dark and creepy past of our state’s capital.
Jill is a freelance writer from a small Northern California town and lives in the Sierra Nevada mountains. If you have an idea for an Only In Northern California story, email her at [email protected]
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